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1 of 5The 2014 Jaguar F-Type was unanimously selected as best in show. Style, performance potential and heritage help the roadster clinch top honors at the 2012 Paris motor show.

Photo by Jaguar

2 of 5The seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf was chosen as the most significant car of the 2012 Paris motor show, and for good reason: the Golf has sold 29 million copies since 1974, and the new model shows every indication of carrying on in this tradition.

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3 of 5It isn't hard to see why the Peugeot Onyx was selected as best concept at the 2012 Paris motor show. Its dramatic looks and use of unconventional materials -- from copper to felt -- made it a standout.

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4 of 5The McLaren P1 wasn't the best in show, but it was an easy choice for the "most fun" award at the 2012 Paris motor show -- even if engine specifications won't be released until next year.

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Best in show: Jaguar F-Type

Supercars lit up the City of Light as horsepower and performance took center stage at the 2012 Paris motor show, even as Europe's economic woes cast a dark shadow over the proceedings. Traditionally one of the most dazzling events on the automotive calendar, the show delivered again this year with extravagant reveals. While emissions and fuel economy remain crucial issues, the spotlight Paris debuts subscribed to a higher creed of performance. That's evidenced in our Best of the Best winners, which all have a penchant for power.

The <i>Autoweek</i> selection for Best in show for the 2012 Paris motor show, the Jaguar F-Type.

Most Significant: Volkswagen Golf

Rarely does our staff of editors and far-flung correspondents come to an accord quickly. But after some discussion, we cast one unanimous ballot for the Jaguar F-Type for top honors at the Paris motor show. We were simply taken with the style, the performance potential, and yes, the heritage.

We've been waiting decades for a successor to the E-type—and it's here at last. Two supercharged V6 engines are offered, but enthusiasts will be drawn to the 5.0-liter blown V8.

Normally effusive design chief Ian Callum walked onstage in France and said simply: “It's a sports car that really is true to Jaguar's values. . . . I really don't need to say much else. This car speaks for itself.” It arrives in the United States next summer.

Best concept: Peugeot Onyx

Volkswagen has sold more than 29 million copies of the Golf since 1974, and it's the linchpin of the company's small-car lineup. The design is largely evolutionary, but VW rolled out a slew of variations in Paris, including a BlueMotion model.

Our personal favorite was the lightly veiled GTI “concept.” While the global relevance of the Golf cannot be understated, Americans will have to wait for it. This generation isn't scheduled to arrive until the first half of 2014.

Most fun: McLaren P1

Peugeot used a wide range of materials for this supercar, though the copper sides clearly stand out the most. There's dark carbon fiber, LED lights and a cabin that employs such oddities as felt and recycled newsprint. But on the circuit, it's all business, running a 600-hp V8 hybrid diesel and six-speed sequential gearbox borrowed from Peugeot's endurance-car efforts. A KERS system boosts output by 80 hp during acceleration. And here's the best part: Unlike some foam and glue concepts, the Onyx runs. Fast. It's reached more than 124 mph and is believed to be capable of more than 200 mph. “This time we wanted something more spectacular, something more extreme,” Peugeot style director Gilles Vidal said.

This was another easy choice, though McLaren's monster P1 drew consideration for Best in Show. It truly is a spectacularly styled and intense interpretation of the modern supercar. Technically, McLaren is still calling this a design study, but it's about 95 percent there, we hear.

The P1 is loaded with carbon fiber, wears one of the most provocative wings you'll see on a racetrack and seems to stare you down with LED lights. Really, this is just the appetizer. Lick your chops—we expect the production machine to be revealed at the 2013 Geneva motor show. Engine specs will also be announced next year.